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32 RESTO OF THE WEEK maltatoday, SUNDAY, 7 SEPTEMBER 2014 ZEST is located on the first f loor of the boutique design hotel, Ho- tel Juliani. With a separate en- trance on the front of the reno- vated townhouse in Spinola Bay, Zest offers a unique visual expe- rience as well as a dining one. East meets west in design, with a focus on comfort in the form of bench seating and sink-into sofas in soothing and striking shades. Charcoal greys, creams and bright colours, decorative chairs and good cutlery and glassware and bright paintings adorning, the restaurant seems to be more like a trendy London eatery than a traditional townhouse in Mal- ta. The bar area is the perfect place to relax and unwind after a long week at work and to prepare yourself for a delightful meal to come. The menu is fantastic fusion of Eastern and Western dishes, split by their region of origin. Eastern dishes are not limited to just sushi, though the sushi on the menu is some of the best on the island, with nigiri, maki and sashimi, all of the freshest on the market. Patrons can sit around the chef and watch the art of su- shi-making. Dim sum is growing in popular- it y in the West, and Zest makes some of the best dim sum avail- able on the island, including Jap- anese prawn gyoza, Thai chicken dumplings and steamed bread buns stuffed with pork. Western dishes include some of the Mediterranean favourites as well as some other dishes for the more adventurous like a cara- melised plum filled with minced, marinated duck served with a horseradish cream. For a more exciting night out, try the shabu shabu menu, a dish t ypically served in Asia. This is a meal made for sharing and ideal for groups, a pot of boil- ing broth is served in the centre of the table and diners can then cook their own pieces of raw beef, fish, prawns, vegetables and bean thread noodles. The meat can then be dipped into one of three highly seasoned sauces. The name shabu shabu is said to come from the sound the meat makes when it is gently swished through the broth. Try something from the noodle bar; Indonesian fried egg noodles with chicken and prawn crack- ers or Phad Thai noodles with prawns, peanuts, egg and spring onions. Noodles can be served as a main or as a side if you just want a little taste. The desserts are no less exciting than the meal that comes before it. Crème brulee cheesecake, ba- nana and ginger tarte tatin or a passion platter consisting of pas- sion fruit and vodka jelly, sweet rice supli and a mango financier. If you like the idea of eastern cuisine thrown in with western delights but find it takes too much to get dressed up to go out, Zest also do take-aways with free de- livery to the surrounding areas. WINE OF THE WEEK Zest Address: Hotel Juliani, 12, St George's Road, St Julian's Opening hours: Daily 19:00 – 23:00 Contact: 21387600 Rachel Zammit Cutajar takes a look at a restaurant and brings a recipe, wine and delicacy of the week. Write to us with your comments on restaurants or submit your own recipes to rzammitcutajar@mediatoday.com.mt FOOD Charles Grech & Co. Ltd., Valley Road, B'Kara Tel: 2144 4400 Nero d'Avola 'Feudo' – Principi di Butera, Sicily 88 points, Wine Enthusiast The grapes are harvested in the third week of September. The fermentation occurs for eight days at 82°-86°F. The wine matures for 12 months, 50% in 92-gallon tonneaux and 50% in 1,320 gallon oak barrels, followed by final aging in the bottle. The nose shows brandied cherry, rich plum and orange zest with notes of cherry blossom, cured meat and exotic spices. The palate is medium-bodied revealing mouthwatering red fruit, wild mushrooms and espresso that lead to substantial and polished tannins. Beautiful graphite minerals linger on the long finish. FOOD PAIRING: Aged pecorino cheese and barbecued meats. Exclusively imported by Charles Grech & Co. Ltd, Valley Road, B'Kara T: 2144-4400 East meets west at Zest A taste of the east is mixed in with western cuisine to make a truly delightful menu East meets west in design, with a focus on comfort in the form of bench seating and sink-into sofas in soothing and striking shades